[Patchworks]

Ok, I just got all my dry fertilizers and would like to confirm I'm doing this right?

By my calculations, I'm using a 2 separate 1 Liter (1000 ml) bottle and putting the following in each bottle:

Bottle #1 Macros

K2SO4 59gr
KNO3 65gr
KH2PO4 6gr

Bottle #2 Trace Elements

Plantex CSM+B 80gr


Now, for dosing, I believe 1ml per 10 Gallons. I have a 150 Gallon tank so 15ml per day! By my calculations each 1 Liter bottle will last about 2 months? Is this correct?

Also, I have Chelated Iron, can this be mixed in with the Trace Elements (Plantex)?

g

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi Patchworks,

I don't know why it took someone so long to get back with you. Although I am not a PPS-Pro expert, I do dose per PPS-Pro and mix up my own solutions so let me try to help.

Your chemical amounts appear to be correct for 1 liter bottles of PPS-Pro Macro and Trace Solutions. I see you are not adding MGSO4 to your macro solution.....is that intentional?

Your dosage amounts are correct as well, if you have 150 gallons of water in your 150 gallon aquarium. And they should last 66.666 days at 15ml per day. However, I found with 2" of substrate (gravel, turface, flourite) in my aquariums the amount of water I actually have in my tanks is 20% less than the rated amount. For example, my 30 gallon has about 24 gallons of water in it. I dose based on the amount of water in the aquarium, not the rated aquarium volume.

I might add that I don't mix up more than I can use in about one month because of issues with fungus growing in the solutions. To minimize fungus growth in the solutions I use distilled water to mix my solutions. I do this to avoid fungus and bacteria as well as possible reactions with minerals in my tap water. I also add a few drops of a basic fungus remedy to my solutions to minimize fungus growth. Since one of my aquariums has shrimp, I make sure the fungus remedy does not have copper. I don't refrigerate my solutions but that would slow the growth of fungus as well.

Lastly, I do not know if you can mix your Chelated Iron with your Trace elements, but it is a good question. I don't do it myself. I do use an iron solution mixed up from 10% Chelated Iron. I mix my solution and dose per Rex Grigg's recommendation here:
http://www.bestaquariumregulator.com/dosing.html

I hope this helps!

 

[Patchworks]

Thanks for your reply. I'm glad I calculated correctly.

What are you are you referring to that you add for fungus control? I kinda like to automate the process and right now I'm planning on mixing up 1 Liter bottles and hook them to my dosing pumps for 2 months. I'm hoping that will work good.

I've been looking into some dry methods, but all the dry foods automatic feeders don't see to work well...

Yes, I ordered my product for Rex Grigg's and I'm dosing iron based on his plan too...

That was the last part I needed so we will see how my plants do from here. I now have about 2.5 to 3 watts per gallon lighting, pressurized CO2 and ferts... Yeah!!!

g

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi Patchworks,

Hopefully Edward will provide us with some guidance on whether we can mix Chelated Iron in our CSM+B Trace Solution, I would like to know the answer as well.

As for a fungus inhibitor, I use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (API) "Liquid Fungus Cure". I add about three drops per 500 ml. It isn't perfect, I still get some fungus in my solutions, but it does slow it down a lot. If Edward has any ideas in this area I sure would like to hear them. Hope this helps!

 

[Patchworks]

Hi Patchworks,

Hopefully Edward will provide us with some guidance on whether we can mix Chelated Iron in our CSM+B Trace Solution, I would like to know the answer as well.

As for a fungus inhibitor, I use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (API) "Liquid Fungus Cure". I add about three drops per 500 ml. It isn't perfect, I still get some fungus in my solutions, but it does slow it down a lot. If Edward has any ideas in this area I sure would like to hear them. Hope this helps!

Ordered the API stuff today. I just found out that I'm not going to be able to use my Dosing Pumps for such small qty. So now I'm going to DIY something with an air pump, but it would be nice to get it down to 2 bottles (Trace + Iron) and (Macros).

g

 

[supersmirky]

There are DIY posts about doing auto dosing located somewhere on the DIY section.

What they basically do is dilute the solution further based on how much is distributed in a min increment that is controlled by a timer.

 

[Patchworks]

There are DIY posts about doing auto dosing located somewhere on the DIY section.

What they basically do is dilute the solution further based on how much is distributed in a min increment that is controlled by a timer.

Yes, I've seen most of them. I'm considering something I haven't seen in the forums before.

There are a few things that make mine different. First, I have a 150 gallon tank so if I dilute mine using the method of a digital time + pump for a a minute, I would need a 55 gallon trash can to hold it. Plus the evaporation rate would be quite a bit and potential for spilling.

Anyway, I'm considering using an air pump with a gang-valve and a series of check valves so I could control 3 bottles (Trace, Macros, Iron) all at once. I want to use a digital timer to have a very small air pump kick on for 1 minutes. The gang valve will control most of the pressure and and have most of the out put bleed of with the gang valve, but then I can control the air input to each bottle. Each bottle will have an air input with a tube in the cap going to the bottom and then to the tank.

Anyway, I'll explain more after some testing.

g

 

[supersmirky]

Hi Patch

Just checking in to see if you got things straightened out and if everything is working well for you.